Hurray for PE awards!

And lastly, Signe and Gunnar both received the blue patch for the presidential award in PE for the first time ever! Only one other 5th grader, a boy, got it along with Signe. Several other 3rd grade boys earned it too in Gunnar's very competitive and athletic class, including his cousins Ransom and Theo, a 6th grader. My kids usually make the required marks in pullups, the mile run, sit-ups, and the V-sit, but neither could ever do the shuttle run fast enough until this year. They are tested and get one chance a quarter, for 4 opportunities all year.
They are both already bugging me to sew the patch on to their backpacks, next to the red ones they earned for the national level last year.

Last day of school!

After Zane's graduation we watched the elementary awards ceremony, and now they are done for the year! Signe loved her 5th grade year with Mr. Kohl, who is finishing his 29th year teaching at Logos. And Gunnar had a great year with Mrs. Loyd.
Signe got her name on the prestigious 150 stamp club board just yesterday, which you can see behind her. Only 3 students in her class earned 150; they get one stamp a day which they can lose for a tardy or absence, a grade below a 70, forgetting lunch cleanup duty, any pink slips, etc.

Zane the kindergarten graduate

This morning we celebrated Zane finishing kindergarten with his class graduation. He is pictured with Mrs. Sawyer, a teacher we greatly love and appreciate who also had Signe and Gunnar in class.

Softball

While I was at Zane's soccer game, Nick was watching Signe's game. They lost 12-7 to Kendrick, but Signe (the skinny #3) was the leadoff batter, with two hits and she scored a run. She is also using Nana's old glove; I remember watching my mom use it to play church league softball (for Pietro's Pizza) in Woodburn 30 years ago.

Zane's last soccer game

Zane had a great season where he scored a number of goals and his team hardly lost a game (because his team had only boys, whereas must of the others were co-ed. And every boy was aggressive and played hard. No space cadets in the group).
By Zane is the coach's son Morgan Rankin, Mark, and Virgil Bunch and Owen in the front.

Zane, Karsten, Gpa, and Gma.

Found on a 2x4 at 3500 Avalon Dr.

History.

A special reward date with mom

Karsten put his last sticker on his sticker chart yesterday for finishing his letter-learning "lessons" at home. We are enjoying the last full day he and I have together before all his siblings wrap up school next week and join us at home for the summer, and he starts preschool in the fall.
Later today he starts another mini adventure; he and Zane and heading out with Dad to Hood River for a quick weekend trip. Gunnar might go too; he hadn't decided yet this morning whether or not he wants to sit in the car that long. But for my littler guys, their motto in life is simple: where Dad goes, there I go too. As long as Dad will let me tag along.

Happy 9th birthday Gunnar!

Gunnar celebrated today, sadly, with his team losing a baseball game. But he got to be the leadoff batter, and struck out once, walked twice, and scored once. He brought Cracker Jacks boxes for everyone on his team.

Don't smile!!!

I really didn't take any pictures of Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa visiting for Grandparent's Day at Logos, other than our lunch break at Arby's. Zane and Grandma had a staring contest. Obviously Zane lost - he couldn't keep a straight face!

End of the year projects

Gunnar did a diorama of Oregon after researching the state all semester for his 3rd grade project. He made Mt. Hood out of clay. Signe learned about ancient civilizations in 5th grade, and she made a Chinese dragon out of clay along with cards explaining its history. These were on display in the classrooms for Grandparents's Day last Friday.

Karsten's micro soccer team

This is Karsten's first opportunity to play a sport; he and Zane play on different soccer teams every Tuesday and Thursday. He plays with cousin Jerome and Uncle Rob is his coach.

Pete the Panda

Zane was almost the last kid in his class to bring "Pete the Panda" home for an overnight visit. He came in a backpack with his bird friend Woody, pajamas, a blanket and pillow, toothbrush, other toys and a writing pad to tell about their adventures for the day.
Zane was very excited to "feed" Pete and take care of him, and insisted on reading him a bedtime story. He eagerly filled up four pages without any help from me. His spelling is atrocious, but I'm still pretty impressed for a kindergartner.
A rough translation of this page is:
"We went to the park and then we went home then we ate lunch then Woody looked at our fish then Pete and Woody met our dog Pete knew already that its name was Lucy."